Manhattan Municipal Building
1 Centre Street
New York, NY 10007
History – written by Chris Buchner (used with permission)
In actuality, the building is the Manhattan Municipal Building. Built between 1913 and 1918, it houses many of the city government’s agencies, including the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Comptroller’s office, the Borough President’s office, the City Clerk’s office, WNYC radio, NYC TV Network and the Department of Finance.
By 1884, City Hall had become overcrowded as it attempted to grow in services to match the needs of the rapidly growing populace of the city. In 1884, Mayor Abraham Hewitt devised a comission to select a site for a building where the city could move some of their offices and get out of rental space held by private landlords. After winning the design competition in 1908, the firm of McKim, Mead & White began construction the following year. By this time, New York City had grown from 1 million people to 4.5 million and 5 boroughs.
The firm’s first skyscraper, it’s one of the largest government office buildings in the world. The building was completed in 1915, even though the first offices were occupied in 1913. By 1916, most of the offices were occupied and opened to the public. The building facade is covered in sculptures and designs reminiscent of Roman culture.
At the very top of the “Muni” building is a statue 3 times life size called Civic Fame, designed by Adolph A. Weinman (1870-1952). Weinman was also responsible for many of the artistic decorations and statues throughout the Muni building. Together, Weinman and the firm of McKim, Mead & White led what would be called the American Renaissance, a movement to integrate all forms of design as a whole in regards to architecture.
20 Years Later: Where Ecto pulled out is now a guard house and a motorized barricade to allow certain cars in or out. You can, however, walk into the plaza with no problem. Bernard Rosenthal’s “Five In One” sculpture (see Fun Facts) is now painted red.
Fun Facts
“The Jerky Boys” (1995)
Near the end of the film we see the building as it’s supposed to be the exterior of the Jerky Boys’ office.
“Cop Land” (1997)
At the very end of the film Sheriff Freddy Heflin (Sylvester Stallone) goes under the Municipal Building’s archway (where the Ghostbusters drove out) on his way to police headquarters, which is located right behind the building. The camera pans up to the top of the building and the movie fades out.
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